Along with jobless woes/high cost of child-rearing, the crippling double burden on working moms is a key factor behind S.Korea's low birthrate. In a recent survey, 71% of young S.Korean women said they wouldn't have a child whether they marry or not, far higher than 43% for men. https://twitter.com/AFP/status/1346044955081363457

Here's a story from the archive about the death of an overworked mother of three & elite official at South Korea's welfare ministry, which -- ironically -- was tasked with raising the country's birthrate... https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/south-korean-mothers-death-highlights-worlds-lowest-birth-rate

Another story from the archive about Gunwi- one of countless South Korean rural communities decimated by the "silver tsunami" of low birthrate/rapid aging of population. One school I visited had a total of 6 pupils (including these 4 boys), down from 700. http://u.afp.com/UJZs